Project title: Impact of climate change on the wetland “Salt Lake of Fine Sand” on the island of Samos.

Team: Knowledge Hunters

Sofouli 103   Samos   Greece   12 Student’s age: 12-13 years old, 14-15 years old

The research question concerns how the change in climatic conditions that we have been experiencing on the planet in recent years has affected the wetland of the “Aliki Psili Ammos” in Samos.
Το ερευνητικό ερώτημα αφορά το πως η μεταβολή των κλιματικών συνθηκών που βιώνουμε στον πλανήτη τα τελευταία χρόνια έχει επιδράσει στον υδροβιότοπο της ”Αλυκής Ψιλής Άμμου” στη Σάμο.

The study area of the present research concerns the wetland “Aliki Psili Ammos” and is located southeast of the island of Samos. It is a wetland system that includes the abandoned salt marsh which floods seasonally during the year. This body of water is of great ecological importance as it is visited by rare birds (flamingos) to breed which enhances the aesthetic and tourist value of the surrounding area. In recent years the weather conditions and the occurrence of meteorological phenomena have changed. For example, long periods of drought, high temperatures and prolonged droughts have altered surface natural processes, which is reflected in very important ecosystems at local level, such as the wetland of the ‘Salt of Fine Sand’. The morphology, area, volume of water, depth and the periods when the wetland area is flooded with water are likely to have been affected as a consequence of climate change. Also the occurrence of weather events has become unpredictable, more rapid and abrupt further changing the portrait and conditions that prevail and shape the natural environment of the area of interest. The aim of this research is to examine whether and to what extent climate change, which we consider a fact in recent years, has affected the water body of the wetland in terms of periods of water filling and periods when it dries out. A sub-objective is to examine whether there is an impact of climate change on the visitation of the lake by flamingos. Students first researched and used data by obtaining information about the study area from the internet and other sources, thus defining the problem. Then, research was based on collecting and comparing satellite images of the study area through Eo Browser. Complementary field observations and photo shoots were carried out in the area of interest and initial planning for the use of drones for aerial photography.

The research methodology was initially organised along the following axes:
1) Literature study on the area of interest by the students and finding information.
2) Visit to the area and on-site observation (mainly regarding the arrival of flamingos in the lake this year), taking ground and aerial photos (with a drone),
3) Processing and analysis of satellite imagery from the survey area using the Sentinel Hub Eo Browser web application.
During the satellite image search stage, students were divided into working groups to share the workload. We used the Sentinel 2 satellite and a search of images from 2016 to the present to compare the condition of the wetland over time and the presence of water in the pond. Students used the NDWI normalized water index in the available satellite imagery by month and year.
The main conclusions that the students came to through their research with the tools mentioned above are summarised below.
In general, it is observed that the lake has been slow to fill with water in recent years (2016 – 2023) and partial filling is observed in many cases until January. From February to April it seems to have the highest quantity and after May it starts to decrease significantly. This is due to a decrease in rainfall frequency combined with higher average temperatures.
Another conclusion the students come to is that the water level is generally low and the amount of water is small most of the year. This may have a negative effect and affect the periods when flamingos arrive at the lake to breed as water is needed in the wetland for this purpose.
Also during the 2018-2020 biennium, the students observed a marked decrease in water levels in the western part of the lake. Finally, it is good to continue the research further.

It is true that one of the initial visions of the students involved in the project and of the research team leader was, on the occasion of “climate detectives”, to start a continuous monitoring of the state of the wetland by taking field data (sampling, ground/air-drone photos) and through the processing of satellite data by web applications such as Eo Browser. Also the ultimate goal was to make students aware of the problem, raise awareness on the issue of climate change and the direct effects it has on our land and our lives. It is evident from the testimonies of the students who have been involved in the project that the previous objectives have been achieved to a certain extent. What the students feel the need and what they are thinking about for the future is to contribute to the solution of the problem through actions to inform the citizens about the issue, the problem, the data, the way they have been researching all this time. Their concern now is to disseminate the results and raise awareness in society and the state. They believe that each of us can make a difference and become part of the solution to the problem.

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This project was automatically translated into English.
Projects are created by the teams and they take the full responsibility of the shared data.
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